One of the many gifts that Boom Boom gave us was the torrent of quips about how one leads one’s life.   He could say so much by saying so little.   A statement at just the right moment resonated in my young, eager eardrums.  How I interpreted or applied it was up to me.  No more words were spoken because no more words were needed.  Today we share a tough one and it’s quickly our 10th.

In the spring semester of eighth grade the PA announcement was music to my ears.   JV and Varsity baseball tryouts would begin that Friday afternoon and continue on that Saturday morning.  His years of hard work with me had reached a pivot point.

The ninth and tenth grade competition would be tough.  I was confident however.   I had been running, hitting, fielding, and pitching for weeks prior.  I was pumped.  Perhaps secretly so was he.

After Friday about a dozen were told thanks but no.  After Saturday’s practice the herd was thinned again, and I was one of 18.  Fifteen would be kept.  So far so good.   Coach had settled me into first base more than anything else.  The competition there wasn’t too strong if you asked me.  As I hopped into the Jetstar 88 for the ride home I wanted to compare myself to others.  He didn’t.   “Did you do your best?”    I said yes.  “That’s all that you can ask of yourself,” he assured me.  “Do your best everyday!”  “That’s what you can control.”

Monday, coach approached after practice.  I got the bad news.   As I hopped in for the drive home my face told the story.  Silence filled the car.  After a few minutes, Boom Boom asked, “Did you do your best?” I didn’t want to hear that at that moment.  “But, I was better than David.”  He didn’t want to hear that at that moment.  He asked again.  I finally mumbled a weak “yes.”  “That’s all anyone can ask son.  Do your best!  And let the chips fall where they may.”

Next spring’s tryout was but 362 days away.

 

 

 

 

 

 

One of the many gifts that Boom Boom gave us was the torrent of quips about how one leads one’s life.   He could say so much by saying so little.   A statement at just the right moment resonated in my young, eager eardrums.  How I interpreted or applied it was up to me.  No more words were spoken because no more words were needed.

Boom Boom lived a healthy and vivacious life for a full 80 years.   In his late seventies he was still regularly riding his bike, walking a mile or so, and maintaining his lawn and gardens to their pristine condition.

He began to suffer from a condition that negatively affected his sciatic nerve in his left leg.  I drove in to visit him not long thereafter.  As I pulled into the driveway his neighbor of nearly 40 years waved at me and walked over to say hello.  After pleasantries were exchanged he mentioned to me that Boom Boom had recently began walking backwards for a substantial portion of his mile plus journeys.  He rightfully expressed concern about him falling due to some of the unevenness of the sidewalk.

Dad greeted me at the door.  I went inside, unpacked, and grabbed some chow.  Then I asked innocently around what Mr. Lambert had expressed to me.   “What’s up with the new walk Dad?”  “I’ve been walking the same way for a long time son.  And, now, I’m facing a challenge.  I decided to tackle this ailment head on.  I need to find a solution.”  “Good Dad, good.  How is it going?”  “It’s too soon to tell.”  But, he said, “if you don’t challenge life, you won’t change how you live it.”

That afternoon, he put on his “walking” shoes, put on the dog’s leash, and was headed to the front door.  He asked if I wanted to join him for walk.  “Sure,” I said.  ‘Backwards,’ I wondered?

Much later in life I learned that in China older folks make walking backwards a daily habit for multiple health reasons including the relief of leg and joint pain.

Whether you walk forward or backwards I suppose that if you don’t challenge life, you won’t change how you live it.

Do you have a sense of what you want to do today? Tomorrow?  Next week?  Next month?  Next year?

Your future starts this second.  We realize that many before us have uttered this phrase.  But, we also realize that far too many have dismissed a chance to really, really pause and reflect on its reality.

The past is truly the past.  You can admire it if you liked it. You can brag if you are unfortunately so inclined.  You can wince if you look back and realize better deeds could have been done.  Or, you can stop wasting positive or negative energy from it and realize that the only thing that you can do is learn from it.

In life as we age we gain experience.  With experience comes wisdom.  With wisdom comes opportunity.  What will you do with your opportunity?

Boom Boom often offered this thought and challenge to anyone within his wide reach, “Your best days are right in front of you.  What will you do with them?”

What is your opportunity?  Boom Boom would say, that regardless of where you are today, your opportunities are many.  He found time to volunteer, mentor, serve in his faith, garden, etc.  This was all in addition to a “day job” with a work ethic second to none.

It’s obvious to all that he lived a full and fulfilled life by sharing anything that he felt could provide a meaningful benefit to family, friends, coworkers, club members, and many others.

Maybe you can pick a path and make a difference in your own special way starting soon.  After all, “your best days are right in front of you.  What will you do with them?”

 

 

 

 

 

Religion is a sensitive subject for many.  For the rest it’s a very sensitive subject.  For Boom Boom it was a fabric woven through his life.

Boom Boom was born and raised Catholic.  He attended mass EVERY Sunday and almost always once more during the week.  He was an usher at most services helping out wherever he could.  He joined the Holy Name Society (a men’s group involved in many worthy causes within the parish) and rose to the presidency.   When the Catholic Church worldwide realized (finally) that fewer men were entering the priesthood, they anointed a chosen few to a level of Minister Extraordinaire (a layman’s version of priesthood with a limited role).  Boom Boom was the first one of a chosen few in his parish for this role.  He gleefully accepted.

But.  But, Boom Boom only showed the way to the church and his devout faith.  He didn’t shout the way.  He delivered it in his actions, not words.

His offspring continued with their devotion to lesser or nonexistent degrees as they reached adulthood and had children of their own.  He never ever suggested that any straying from the strict devotion that he practiced was a wrong turn in their lives.

The willingness to sacrifice, the willingness to help, and the willingness to have unyielding faith in your beliefs, whatever they may be, was the silent message he sent to all.  That message has great application in anything worth pursuing.

As with many lessons it took a while to fully understand and appreciate this one.  It is now much appreciated.  Stay strong in your beliefs and keep the faith!